A Shadow of Our Former Elves—Santa's elves have had enough with slave wages and lousy working conditions. They'll be letting off a little steam in a late-night Christmas variety show beginning this weekend at Sol Arts (712 Central SE). With live music, flicks from Basement Films and surprises around every corner, A Shadow of Our Former Elves should be a welcome alternative to the staid conventions of more typical holiday entertainments. Fridays and Saturdays at 9:45 p.m. through Dec. 17. $5. Proceeds to benefit United Elf Workers of the World, Northern Branch. 710-7724.

Orpheum Art Center

By Steven Robert Allen

A host of fine local artists will be opening their studios for a special holiday show called Wild and Sweet at the Orpheum Art Center (500 Second Street SW). Beyond the visual art, there will also be modern, belly, aerial hoop and burlesque dance performances along with comedy improv and short animation. Wild and Sweet opens Friday, Dec. 9, with a reception from 6 to 8:30 p.m. Open studios will be held Saturday, Dec. 10, from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday, Dec. 18, from 1 to 4 p.m. For a schedule of events, call 715-2602 or e-mail Courtney at bellcourt@yahoo.com.

Love & Beauty at the Tricklock Performance Space

By Steven Robert Allen

A few years ago, the Tricklock Company staged a play called Dandelion Clockwork, a bizarre comic horror show that, from what I remember, was quite a bit more horrifying than comical. I liked it well enough, but it didn't exactly bowl me over.

Every winter in Iceland, friends and relatives give each other a book. It is a national tradition, this exchange of literary presents, which means that all the books in Iceland are published around Christmastime.